The government shutdown may have made it tougher to fix the air traffic controller shortage

The sun sets over an air traffic control tower at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. A shortage of air traffic controllers has become worse due to resignations and retirements during the recent government shutdown. Daniel Cole/Reuters

America hasn’t had enough air traffic controllers for more than a decade – and the recent government shutdown might have made it even worse.

The stress of not being paid for those 44 days, on top of already harsh working conditions, spurred many to leave the workforce, according to Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union representing controllers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said it also prompted many to retire early.

Replacing them could take years – and the shutdown underscored the stakes whe